Dystopia 26: The Rock Opera

Just under a year since its last standing ovation at Glasgow's Oran Mor, DYSTOPIA 26: THE ROCK OPERA returns for its final show of 2026 on Friday 2nd October. And what a year it's been! Since its last visit, this popular gig theatre phenomenon has toured Scottish venues, performed two sold out shows at London's West End Leicester Square Theatre and made a triumphant return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Bedlam Theatre, being hailed along the way by critics and audiences alike as a uniquely entertaining and thought-provoking piece of theatre. So it's fitting that Beldon Haigh brings the show home to the place where it kicked off what has been a fantastic 12 months!

Audiences have participated enthusiastically in their visit to a Dystopian maximum-security reformatory prison, where disgraced spin doctor Beldon Haigh, aided and abetted by incendiary rebel Helen Raiser, narrates his story, lifting the curtain on the political shenanigans which elevated President Blame to power with his ‘Make Dystopia Great Again' agenda and has helped him keep the country under his tyrannical rule. But in the second half of the show, there's an opportunity overturn Blame and replace him with Magnanimous Moon and his Moon On A Stick Party. Which will you choose? And more importantly, which of the two can offer you something that will really make you happy?

The story unfolds in gig theatre form with Beldon and Helen on lead vocals, backed by a tremendous band consisting of Trump Chicken on bass, Polonium Putin on drums and Kim Jong Elvis on lead guitar, and of course, interventions by multi-instrumental President Blame himself. Featuring instantly hummable tunes, excellent musicianship and captioned projections throughout, this immersive production will make you laugh, sing, cheer and leave you thinking deeply about the state of the world today.

Originally conceived as a seven-night experiment at Whistlebinkies for the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe by singer, songwriter and Falkirk resident Justin Skelton, who leads the band of fellow Falkirk-based musicians, Dystopia 26: The Rock Opera has quickly grown and developed to reflect international events within the concept of a uniquely entertaining musical, which has captivated audiences and critics alike. It is a show about happiness for those who believe music and laughter are acts of resistance; for those who feel the world has gone mad, yet still want to laugh, sing, shout and survive it together.

Don't miss this final opportunity to experience the show before it disappears!

Price: General Admission: GBP 22.02